The Council of Ministers today expressed complete satisfaction over the contents of the final communiqué issued at the end of the sixteenth summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) which ended its deliberations in Muscat last Wednesday, and to which Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard, led the Kingdom’s delegation on behalf of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz. Presiding over the regular weekly cabinet meeting, Prince Abdullah referred to the final communiqué as “a historic document embodying the pillars of joint cooperation and coordination among the member states to fulfill the aspirations of the peoples of the region and to reinforce the welfare march of the GCC.” Prince Abdullah further expressed satisfaction on the discharge of King Fahd from hospital last Thursday in good health after completion of the required medical tests. On behalf of the King, the Saudi government and the people, Prince Abdullah thankedthe GCC leaders who began the final communiqué by voicing their delight at the reassuring results of the Saudi monarch’s medical checkup.

Information Minister Dr. Fouad Al-Farsi reported that Prince Abdullah called for an increased awareness of the environment to be borne in mind during the drafting of plans and feasibility studies for new industrial schemes. Highlighting the steps taken by the government to strike a balance between the environment and industrial development, Prince Abdullah cited the certificates of merit awarded by concerned regional and international organizations to national projects at the two industrial cities of Yanbu and Jubail, especially those which are affiliates of Saudi Aramco and SABIC, on account of their total conformity to environmental protection measures. He expressed pride in the fact that in 1995, for the second time in three years , the Kingdom was awarded the Fred Packard Prize by the UN’s International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (The World Conservation Union).

In observance of the UN’s Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, Prince Abdullah called on all countries not to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Holy City of Al-Quds (Jerusalem) and not to give in to Israeli pressure by moving embassies to the occupied city, saying that “such a step will be in violation of the resolutions of the UN Security Council and jeopardize the Middle East Peace Process”.

Prince Abdullah renewed the Kingdom’s total support of the international campaign against terrorism and organized crime in line with Islamic teachings which deplore terrorism, violence and sabotage. He made it clear that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the GCC states in facing up to this destructive phenomenon, joining any effort to guarantee peace and stability, as well as charting out the necessary plans to combat it. Denouncing acts of terrorism and organized crime which threaten the safety of innocent people and run counter to Islamic teachings, the cabinet called for joint action and international cooperation.

Referring to domestic issues reviewed by the cabinet, Prince Abdullah asked the concerned ministers and officials to attend to the interests of the citizens and settle issues as promptly as possible. Dealing with the resolutions adopted at this week’s meeting, Dr. Al-Farsi reported that after reviewing the relevant documents and recommendations the cabinet approved the renewal of the economic and trade agreement between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Syria for one year effective from 26/7/1416 H. (November 19, 1995). The cabinet also endorsed a recommendation concerning the formation of the Board of Directors of the General Organization of Grain Silos and Flour Mills for the three years effective from 26/7/1416 H. (November 19, 1995) under the chairmanship of Dr. Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Maamar, Minister of Agriculture and Water.